Binder elements for loose leaf sheets



May 29, 1956 A. FREUNDLICH 2,747,577

BINDER ELEMENTS FOR LOOSE LEAF SHEETS Filed Oct. 1, 1952 I a 40 44 7 1 5. l 5 F 5 14 INVENTOR. ALBERT FREUNDLICH BYWIQ ATTORNEY United States BINDER ELEMENTS FOR LOOSE LEAF SHEETS Albert Freundlich, New York, N. Y., assignor to Freundlich-Gomez Machinery Crp., College Point, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 1, 1952, Serial No. 312,559

2 Claims. (Cl. 129-1) This invention relates to binder elements for loose leaf sheets.

An object of this invention is to provide a tubular binder element made of resilient synthetic plastic material and provided with resilient fingers adapted to pass through closed slots in loose leaves or in a loose leaf book, said binder being provided with peripheral overlapping portions to engage the loose leaves so that they will not accidently pull out of the binder.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tubular binder element provided with a back bone and with spaced pairs of aligned complementary resilient fingers, said fingers having interlocking portions to prevent the fingers from accidently opening up, and said fingers having peripherally overlapping portions to prevent accidental re moval of the loose leaves from the binder element.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a tubular binder comprising a back bone portion and a plurality of spaced fingers projecting from one side of the back bone portion, the opposite side of the back bone portion having curved edges between the fingers and overlapping the free ends of the fingers, so that the sheets engaged by the binder will be retained against accidentally coming away from the binder by the free ends of the fingers, said curved edges serving to hold the sheets above the free ends of the fingers so as to be retained thereby.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a tubular binder of the character described, comprising a back bone portion and spaced fingers extending from the side of the back bone portion, each of the fingers being formed with a central notch at the free end thereof, said back bone portion having at its other side portions extending into said notches in the fingers and overlapping the free end portion of the fingers at opposite sides of the notches, to help retain the leaves bound by said binder from accidentally falling out or pulling out.

Prior binders were formed with notches at one side in the backbone to receive the free ends of the fingers extending from the other side of the backbone. These notches weakened the backbone and also prevented printing on the backbone. With the present construction these objectionable notches are eliminated thus strengthening the backbone and permitting printing thereon.

With the present construction, furthermore, the backbone may be narrower where the fingers are on opposite sides of the backbone. In constructions where the fingers come from one side of the backbone the outwardly curved edges which extend from the other side of the backbone and between the fingers serve to strengthen the backbone. In constructions in accordance with the present invention where the fingers are on opposite sides of the backbone, the backbone is like the spine with opposite ribs, the fingers themselves strengthen the backbone at the points where the fingers are located.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a strong, durable binder of the character described, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and yet practical and efiicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown various illustrative embodiments of the invention;

Fig. 1 is a partial perspective view of a binder tube embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a modified construction;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5- of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line '6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4 and illustrating yet another modified construction;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 9-) of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a partial top plan view showing the loose leaf book bound by a binder and illustrating yet another modification;

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of an. opposite side oi the binder shown in Figs. 10 and 11;

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of Fig 12;

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 14-14 of Fig. 12.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, numeral 10 designates a binder embodying the invention. Said binder is preferably made oi resilient synthetic plastic material.

The binder 10 may be made of an extruded tube of resilient plastic material die cut to the shape shown in the drawings.

The tubular binder 10 comprises a backbone portion 11. Extending from the opposite sides of the backbone portion 11 are spaced pairs of aligned complemer ary fingers 12 and 13. The fingers 12 and 13 are coextensive longitudinally and may also be equiangular in peripheral extent. The finger 12 has spaced longitudinally aligned outer edges 14, the inner ends of which are interconnected be a part circular notch 15 greater than in extent. thereby forming projections 16 extending toward each other to form a neck for the notch. The fingers 13 have spaced longitudinally aligned straight edges 17 and a central head 19 received within the notch The 19 is formed with a narrow neck portion 18 received between the projections 16. Thus, the head is locked within the notch 15. In other words, the fingers 7.2 and 13 cannot be separated unless the head 1'9 is pulled radially outwardly of the notch.

It will now be observed that when loose leaves or a book such as shown at 20 in Figs. 10 and 11, and formed with longitudinal closed slots 21, has the fingers 12 and 13 passing therethrough, the overlapping portions of the fingers 12 and 13 will serve to hold the leaves of the book from accidently being pulled out. Not only would the heads 19 have to be released from the notches, but the fingers would also have to be spread considerably before the leaves could come out.

In Figs. 4, S, and 6 there is shown a binder 10a embodyplementary fingers 26 and 27.

ing the invention similar to the binder 10 with the exception that the fingers arenot interlocked. Binder 10a likewise is generally tubular in shape and has a backbone portion 25 from which extend spacedaligned pairs of corn- Fingers 26 are formed with'central notches 28 at the free ends thereof and thefing'ers 27 are formed with tabs 29 which are'received in the notches 28. The'finge'rs 26 and 27 may be readily spread apart, and when doing so, the tabs 29 may pull out of the notches 28. Inother words, the neck portion and enlarged head portion of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are omitted from the device shown in Figs. 4, and 6. f

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 there is shown a tubular binder b embodying the invention, likewise made of 'resilient synthetic plastic material. The binder 10b comprises a backbone portion 30 from which extends spaced pairs of cornplementary fingers 31, 32. Fingers '31, 32 are formed with interlocking longitudinal tabs 33, 34, respectively. Fin= gers 31 are formed with longitudinal notches 35 to receive tabs 34 whereas fingers 32 are formed with longitudinal notches 36 to receive the tabs 33. Here, likewise, the interlocking tabs 33, 34 must be disengaged before the fingers 3'1, 32 overlap peripherally so as to prevent the leaves from accidently being pulled out.

In Figs. 10 and 14 there is shown a tubular binder 10c 7 fied construction. The binder 10c, likewise, may be made of resilient synthetic plastic extruded in the form of a tube and die cut to the shape shown'in the drawings. The tube 100 comprises a backbone portion 40 from one side of which extend a plurality of spaced fingers 41. The backbone 40. on the side from'which the fingers extend, may have straight edges 42 between said fingers. The fingers 41 are formed at their outer ends with central inwardly curved notches 43. On opposite sides of each notch 43 are formed a pair of rounded tabs 44. The opposite edge of the backbone 40 is formed with forwardly extending rounded tabs 45 received in the notches 43 and also with inwardly curved notches 46 to receive the tabs 44 of the fingers 41. Between each pair of fingers 41, said opposite side of the backbone 40 is formed with a hump-like outwardly curved portion 47 which peripherally overlaps the tabs 44.

When the book or leaves 20 are bound by binder 10c, the fingers 41 pass through the slots 21. The hump portions 47 contact the lowermost sheet or cover of the book 20 between the slots so as to keep the sheets above the 4 V lower edges of the tabs 44. Thus tabs 44 project into slots 21 and through said slots so as to keep the leaves or covers from easily being pulled out.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments mightbe made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not'in a limiting sense. V l

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters. Patent:

1. A binder of resilient material comprising an elongated backbone, a plurality of spaced fingers unitary with one side of the backbone and havingfree ends extending to the opposite side of said backbone, said opposite side of said backbone having a sinuous edge providing alternat ing notches and humped projeetionajsaid projections rising to substantially the same height, the free "ends of each finger having a sinuous edge providing a central .notch and opposite humped side tabs, the notch or each finger normally receiving one of said humped projections on the backbone, the tabs being normally. disposed in adjacent notches in said backbone, and the projections on the backbone including one between each'two adjacent fingers which projectsout'wardly beyond the portions of said notches in said backbone which receive the tabs. 7

2. The combination of laims, said backbone being transversely arcuate, said fingers being transversely arouate and having edge to edge contact with said opposite side of said backbone, said fingers and backbone forming aligned tubes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS Great Britain -2 Dec. 6, 1 9 44 

